Body

Part 1

Thinking about adding physical activity to your life, but not sure how to get started? Sometimes taking the first step is the hardest part.

If you have not been active in some time, start at a comfortable level and add a little more activity as you go along. Some people find that getting active with a friend makes it easier to get started.

Is something holding you back?

Think about reasons why you have not been physically active. Then try to come up with some ways to get past what is keeping you from getting active.

Have you said to yourself . . . ?

I haven’t been active in a very long time.
Solution: Choose something you like to do. Many people find walking helps them get started. Before you know it, you will be doing more each day.

I don’t have the time.
Solution: Start with 10-minute chunks of time a couple of days a week. Walk during a break. Dance in the living room to your favorite music. It all adds up.

It costs too much.
Solution: You don’t have to join a health club or buy fancy equipment to be active. Play tag with your kids. Walk briskly with your dog for 10 minutes or more.

Write down some things you could do to get past what may be holding you back:

Feeling good

“I recently bought an exercise bike at a yard sale. I get up early in the morning and ride. It feels good. Sometimes I can squeeze in only 10 minutes before I take off for my job. Even 10 minutes is better than not doing anything.”

What can physical activity do for you?

You may have heard the good things you can gain from regular physical activity.

Check off which of these benefits you hope to get from active living:

Be healthier
Increase my chances of living longer
Feel better about myself
Have less chance of becoming depressed
Sleep better at night
Help me look good
Be in shape
Get around better
Have stronger muscles and bones
Help me stay at or get to a healthy weight
Be with friends or meet new people
Enjoy myself and have fun
Did you know?

When you are not physically active, you are more likely to:

Get heart disease
Get type 2 diabetes
Have high blood pressure
Have high blood cholesterol
Have a stroke
Build up over time

Start by doing what you can, and then look for ways to do more. If you have not been active for a while, start out slowly. After several weeks or months, build up your activities—do them longer and more often.

Walking is one way to add physical activity to your life. When you first start, walk 10 minutes a day on a few days during the first couple of weeks.

Add more time and days. Walk a little longer. Try 15 minutes instead of 10 minutes. Then walk on more days a week.

Pick up the pace. Once this is easy to do, try walking faster. Keep up your brisk walking for a couple of months. You might want to add biking on the weekends for variety.

How much physical activity do you need each week?

Advice to follow:

Aerobic

Adults should get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes each week of aerobic physical activity that requires moderate effort.
You need to do this type of activity for at least 10 minutes at a time.
Strengthening

Adults should also do strengthening activities at least 2 days a week.
Strengthening activities include push-ups, sit-ups and lifting weights
Do it your way.

Pick an activity you like and one that fits into your life.
Find the time that works best for you.
Be active with friends and family. Having a support network can help you keep up with your program.
There are many ways to build the right amount of activity into your life. Every little bit adds up and doing something is better than doing nothing.

Moderate-level activities (check off the ones you will try):

Biking slowly
Canoeing
Dancing
General gardening (raking, trimming shrubs)
Tennis (doubles)
Using your manual wheelchair
Using hand cyclers—also called arm ergometers
Walking briskly
Water aerobics

Part 2

Congratulations! You are doing some regular physical activity each week and are ready to do more. You may be feeling the benefits of getting active, such as having fun with friends, sleeping better, and getting toned. Are you looking for ways to do more activities at a moderate level?

Here are 2 examples for adding more activity

You can do more by being active longer each time. Walking for 30 minutes, 3 times a week? Go longer—walk for 50 minutes, 3 times a week.
You can do more, by being active more often. Are you biking lightly 3 days a week for 25 minutes each time? Increase the number of days you bike. Work up to riding 6 days a week for 25 minutes each time.
Tip: If you have not been this active in the past, work your way up. In time, replace some moderate activities with vigorous activities that take more effort. These are explained in detail in Part 3.

Activities for stronger muscles and bones

Advice to follow:

Adults should do activities to strengthen muscles and bones at least 2 days a week.

Choose activities that work all the different parts of the body—your legs, hips, back, chest, stomach, shoulders, and arms. Exercises for each muscle group should be repeated 8 to 12 times per session.

Try some of these activities a couple of days a week:

Heavy gardening (digging, shoveling)
Lifting weights
Push-ups on the floor or against the wall
Sit-ups
Working with resistance bands (long, wide rubber strips that stretch)
Tip: Some people like resistance bands because they find them easy to use and put away when they are done. Others prefer weights; you can use common grocery items, such as bags of rice, vegetable or soup cans, or bottled water.

For best success

Team up with a friend. It will keep you motivated and be more fun.
Pick activities that you like to do.
Track your time and progress. It helps you stay on course.  Before you know it, you’ll be able to do at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of activities at a moderate level each week.
Add in more strength-building activities over time. For example, you can do sit-ups or push-ups.
Shaping up

“My son and I play in a baseball league twice a week. On the days we play, I sleep much better at night. This makes me want to do more on other days. My son wants to lift weights together, and so we got some weights and work out in the basement.”

Planning your activity for the week

Physical activity experts say that spreading aerobic activity out over at least 3 days a week is best. Also, do each activity for at least 10 minutes at a time. There are many ways to fit in 2 hours and 30 minutes a week. For example, you can do 30 minutes of aerobic activity each day, for 5 days.

On the other 2 days, do activities to keep your muscles strong. Find ways that work well for you.

Want to learn more about how to add physical activity to your life?

Join a fitness group.
Talk to your health care provider about good activities to try.
Speak to the worksite wellness coordinator at your job.

Part 3

Adding more time

Already doing 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of aerobic physical activity? Good for you! Do you want to gain even more health benefits from physical activity? Slowly add more time to your weekly routine.

Strive to double your weekly activity time. Work to be active 5 or more hours each week. This activity level can lower your chances of getting breast and colon cancer. Read the next section to find out how to add more effort.

Gaining more health benefits!

Advice to follow:

To get more health benefits, add more time of aerobic physical activity.

Try to move from 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-level activities a week to 5 hours or more a week.
Adding more effort

Instead of doing only moderate-level activities, replace some with vigorous aerobic activities that will make your heart beat even faster. Adding vigorous activities provides benefits in less activity time. In general, 15 minutes of vigorous activity provides the same benefits as 30 minutes of moderate activity.

Have you been walking for 30 minutes 5 days a week? On 2 days, try jogging instead of walking for 15 minutes each time. Keep on walking for 30 minutes on the other 3 days.

Would you like to have stronger muscles? If you have been doing strengthening activities 2 days a week, try adding an extra day.

Mix it up!

You can do all moderate activities, all vigorous activities, or some of each. You should always start with moderate activities and then add vigorous activities little by little.

To mix it up, you can try 30 minutes of biking fast to and from your job 3 days a week. Then play softball for 60 minutes 1 day. Then lift weights for 2 days.

You’ve mixed vigorous aerobic activity (biking fast) with moderate aerobic activity (softball) and activities for stronger muscles (weights).

To add more effort, try some vigorous activities (check off the ones you will try):

Aerobic dance
Basketball
Fast dancing
Jumping rope
Martial arts (such as karate)
Race walking, jogging, or running
Riding a bike on hills or riding faster
Soccer
Swimming fast or swimming laps
Tennis (singles)
You can choose moderate or vigorous activities, or a mix of both each week

Advice to follow:

You should do at least 2 hours and 30 minutes each week of aerobic physical activity at a moderate level.

OR

You should do at least 1 hour and 15 minutes each week of aerobic physical activity at a vigorous level.

Do it your way!

You can replace some or all of your moderate activity with vigorous activity. With vigorous activities, you get similar health benefits in half the time it takes you with moderate ones.

Muscle strengthening activities

Remember to also do strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week.

Adding more time

Strive to double your weekly activity time. Work to be active 5 or more hours each week for even more health benefits.

For Everyone: Staying Safe and Avoiding Injury

Physical activity is generally safe for everyone. People who are physically fit have less chance of injury than those who are not fit. The health benefits you gain from being active are far greater than the chances of getting hurt. Being inactive is definitely not good for your health.

Here are some things you can do to stay safe while you are active:

If you haven’t been active in a while, start slowly and build up.
Learn about the types and amounts of activity that are right for you.
Choose activities that are appropriate for your fitness level.
Build up the time you spend before switching to activities that take more effort.
Use the right safety gear and sports equipment.
Choose a safe place to do your activity.
See a health care provider if you have a health problem.

Part 4
Finding out what kind and how much physical activity you need

How do I do it?

It’s your choice. Pick an activity that’s easy to fit into your life. Do at least 10 minutes of physical activity at a time. Choose aerobic activities that work for you. These make your heart beat faster and can make your heart, lungs, and blood vessels stronger and more fit. Also, do strengthening activities which make your muscles do more work than usual.

Why should I be physically active?

Physical activity can make you feel stronger and more alive. It is a fun way to be with your family or friends. It also helps you improve your health.

How many times a week should I be physically active?

It is up to you, but it is better to spread your activity throughout the week and to be active at least 3 days a week.

How do I build up more physical activity?

Do a little more each time. Once you feel comfortable, do it more often. Then you can trade activities at a moderate level for vigorous ones that take         more effort. You can do moderate and vigorous activities in the same week.

How much physical activity do I need to do?

This chart tells you about the activities that are important for you to do. Do both aerobic activities and strengthening activities. Each offers important health benefits. And remember, some physical activity is better than none!

Aerobic Activities

If you choose activities at a moderate level, do at least 2 hours and 30 minutes a week.

If you choose vigorous activities, do at least 1 hour and 15 minutes a week.

Slowly build up the amount of time you do physical activities. The more time you spend, the more health benefits you gain. Aim for twice the amount of activity in the box at left.
Do at least 10 minutes at a time.
You can combine moderate and vigorous activities.

Muscle Strengthening Activities

Do these at least 2 days a week.

Include all the major muscle groups such as legs, hips, back, chest, stomach, shoulders, and arms.
Exercises for each muscle group should be repeated 8 to 12 times per session.

How can I tell an activity at a moderate level from a vigorous one?

Vigorous activities take more effort than moderate ones. Here are just a few moderate and vigorous aerobic physical activities. Do these for 10 minutes or more at a time.

Moderate Activities (I can talk while I do them, but I can’t sing.)

Ballroom and line dancing
Biking on level ground or with few hills
Canoeing
General gardening (raking, trimming shrubs)
Sports where you catch and throw (baseball, softball, volleyball)
Tennis (doubles)
Using your manual wheelchair
Using hand cyclers—also called ergometers
Walking briskly
Water aerobics
Vigorous Activities (I can only say a few words without stopping to catch my breath.)

Aerobic dance
Biking faster than 10 miles per hour
Fast dancing
Heavy gardening (digging, hoeing)
Hiking uphill
Jumping rope
Martial arts (such as karate)
Race walking, jogging, or running
Sports with a lot of running (basketball, hockey, soccer)
Swimming fast or swimming laps
Tennis (singles)
Keeping track of what you do each week

Make copies of the forms that follow to write down your goals and track your activities each week. There are examples first, and then blank forms for your use.

The first form is for aerobic activities. The second form is for strengthening activities. Be active your way by choosing activities you enjoy!

based on the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans